Coaster with moat and physical barrier against crawling arthropods and insects

ABSTRACT

A device (coaster) for isolating an article from a surface of the coaster that has a moat containing an arthropod-deterring compound and a physical barrier that serves to repel crawling arthropods and insects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is related to pest management and more particularly is a coaster with a moat containing a repelling compound and a vertical physical barrier surface material (example: polished glass) to deter crawling arthropods and insects from being able to access an article on the top surface of the coaster. The coaster's moat can be enclosed for safety in handling and disposing of the coaster with disease carrying arthropods and insects inside. When in proper operation this coaster prevents persons and small children from putting their hands in the moat with the toxic repelling compound, since it has a cover over it.

There are a few items in this field, but they involve a coaster or other items that have a moat with out any cover over it and do not have a vertical physical barrier surface material to prevent the arthropod or the insects from accessing an article on the top surface of the coaster and they do not have a moat that can be enclosed for safety in handling and disposing of the coaster with disease carrying arthropods and insects inside. Many arthropods will not die immediately after being exposed to the repellent in the moat, and without a physical barrier, they may cross the moat.

One such approach is shown in the Roberts patent. U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,281. This device provides a coaster to isolate against crawling arthropods, but does not involve a moat. The arthropod-deterring compound, in this case is applied to the underside of the coaster. The disadvantage of this design, is that parts of the pesticide may chip off in time and land on the floor with a possibility of a small child possibly eating the pesticide. There is no vertical physical barrier included in this design, and arthropods who do not die immediately from the repelling compound may also cross this coaster, only to die later, after biting individuals on the other side of the coaster (example: a person sleeping in a bed). Also, an insect will just land on the floor after being exterminated by the pesticide, and there is a possibility that a small child would eat these insects or come in contact with the fallen insects. Also, one could not use non-toxic diatomaceous earth because it is a powder. This device has limitations.

An approach to a pet food dish is shown in the Anderson patent. U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,531. Even though this device contains a moat it does not have a physical barrier, and its object is to provide a barrier for pet food. A small child could put their fingers in the moat that contains the pesticide and become ill, since the moat does not have a cover over it.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages of prior art, the general purpose of this present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide a safer coaster with a combination of different mechanisms that will repel arthropods and other crawling insects for any article placed on a surface of the coaster.

The present invention is comprised of a coaster with a moat in which an arthropod repelling compound (solid, liquid, or powder) is applied which will prevent arthropods and other crawling insects from crawling onto any article placed on a surface of the coaster. Arthropods and other crawling insects will have to cross this arthropod repelling compound to have access to an article placed on the surface of the coaster. Furthermore, after crossing the arthropod repelling compound in the moat, the arthropod has to climb up a vertical wall with surface material (example: polished glass) the will deter and trap the arthropod in the moat.

The principal advantage of the invention to provide a device for preventing crawling insects from invading or infesting an article placed on the surface of the coaster, especially when most insects do not die instantly if just repellent is used, and integral with this coaster is a physical barrier that will effectively trap the and prevent the crawling insect from crossing the barrier and biting a person before they perish.

Another advantage of the invention is that the moat containing the arthropod repelling compound is safer as arthropod repelling compound can not fall on the ground if the device is used properly.

Another advantage of the invention is that it is safer as the arthropod repelling compound is not directly exposed to the exterior of the device, when used properly, making it difficult for a person to touch the repelling compound.

Another advantage of the invention is that only a minimal amount of arthropod repelling compound is required.

Another advantage of the invention is that it can be shipped in a closed position not exposing handlers to toxic pesticides.

Articles could include but are not limited to beds, cots, incubators, tables, food preparation tables, furniture, play pens, cribs, nursery room furniture, and many other objects. This device can be used in a multitude of other situations not mentioned here.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 sets forth a view of the coaster with repelling moat isolating and physical barrier isolating against crawling arthropods and insects in plan.

FIG. 2 sets forth a view of the coaster with repelling moat isolating and physical barrier isolating against crawling arthropods and insects in section as noted in FIG. 1 with section cut dotted line 1 with the coaster in the open position. This is the position that the coaster will operate in the field.

FIG. 3 sets forth a view of the coaster with repelling moat and physical barrier isolating against crawling arthropods and insects in section as noted in FIG. 1 with section cut dotted line 1 with the coaster in the closed position. This is the position that the coaster would be shipped to the customer in, safely containing any arthropod repelling material.

FIG. 4 sets forth a view of the coaster with repelling moat and physical barrier isolating against crawling arthropods and insects in elevation.

FIG. 5 sets forth a view of the top part of the coaster with repelling moat and physical barrier isolating against crawling arthropods and insects in section as noted in FIG. 2 with perspective section cut dotted line 2 and does not show the lower part or base of the coaster.

FIG. 6 sets forth a view of the lower part of the coaster with repelling moat and physical barrier isolating against crawling arthropods and insects in a sliced perspective section as noted in FIG. 2 with section cut dotted line 3 and does not show the top part of coaster.

FIG. 7 sets forth a cross section in plan of the lower part of the coaster with repelling moat and physical barrier isolating against crawling arthropods and insects as noted in FIG. 4 with section cut dotted line 4.

FIG. 8 sets forth a perspective of a filler plug for the elevation of articles whose clearance is lower than the height of the coaster.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The drawings and description contained are for purposes of illustrating the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same. This coaster with a repelling moat that has arthropod repelling compound in it which will repel crawling arthropods and insects. Arthropods must pass thru this coaster to have access to the article placed upon it. The arthropod repelling compound provides the primary impediment to the crawling arthropods and insects. In addition, after the arthropod crosses the repelling compound it must climb a vertical surface material (example: polished glass) to access an article on the surface of the coaster.

This coaster with a repelling moat would preferable be manufactured by injection molding with plastic polymers. The vertical physical barrier could be made with a number of material, including but not limited to polished glass, or polished metal.

Since the coaster will seal, it can be used and shipped with toxic repellents.

This coaster with a repelling moat would have a multitude of uses, some of which will be mentioned here. The Articles could be protected with the coaster could include but are not limited to beds, cots, incubators, tables, food preparation tables, furniture, play pens, cribs, nursery room furniture, and many other objects.

This coaster would provide a safe approach to controlling arthropods. It has the advantage of exterminating crawling insects at a point they must cross in order to have access to a bed, for example. Therefore, their will be less reliance on spraying, atomizing, or otherwise subjecting occupied rooms to toxic levels of pesticides, especially where young children reside.

These coasters could be filled with permethrin or synthetic permethrin (but not limited to these insecticides) or the coasters could be filled on site with sudsy water, or non-toxic diatomaceous earth. The repellent could also be comprised of a soft, pliable round polymer having a crawling arthropod deterring ingredient molded therein or absorbed, and placed in the round moat at the time of manufacture. However, any repelling component or pesticide could be used.

This coaster has the advantages over previous state of the art in that the coaster is safer when using solid repellent in the moat, since it would be contained and can't be touched. It would be non-toxic when using diatomaceous earth powder in this coaster which one of the previous designs could not use, since the arthropod repelling ingredient is affixed to the underside of the coaster.

There is no required shape of the coaster although in FIG. 1 the coaster displayed is round. There are two parts to the body of the coaster as shown in FIG. 2, the top part 6 and the lower part 15.

FIG. 1 indicates the direction and where the cross section 1 displayed in FIG. 2. (FIG. 2 shows the coaster in the open position) is taken and is also the cross section displayed in FIG. 3 (FIG. 3 shows the coaster in the closed position.). FIG. 1 displays the coaster in plan, and the top part 6 of the coaster. FIG. 1 shows the outer edge of the coaster 7 and the inner wall 10. FIG. 1 shows the center space 5 where an article would rest on the coaster. FIG. 1 also shows the outer edge of the top part of the coaster 8 and the sloped part of the top 9. FIG. 1 shows the knobs 11 from the lower part of the coaster coming into the center space 5. The article resting on the top surface of this coaster could be (but is not limited to) the leg of a sofa, lazy-boy, bed, cot, play pen, or crib.

FIG. 2 shows the cross section of the coaster in an open position which is the position that someone using the coaster would operate it FIG. 2 indicates the direction of the perspective section 2 displayed in FIG. 5 and the perspective section 3 displayed in FIG. 6. The coaster is made of two parts the top part 6 (which is a cover to prevent people and little children from putting their hands in the toxic repellent that is in the moat of the lower part) and the lower part 15 (The sloped wall of the lower part 15 would be made with a coarse finish so the arthropods would not have a problem climbing the sloped wall.). FIG. 2 shows the top part 6 of the coaster and the sloped part of the top 9. FIG. 2 also shows the outer and inner walls of the circular moat 12 (cross hatched to the left) which are made up with the vertical barrier surface material, which can be any permanent material that insects or arthropods can not climb or any non-permanent material applied to the vertical wall (examples include but are not limited to: polished glass, polished metal, petroleum jelly, talc, sticky paper, etc.) The vertical barrier surface could be insect specific. For example bed bugs can not climb polished glass or polished metal surfaces, therefore the barrier could be polished glass or polished metal surfaces in the case of bed bugs. FIG. 2 shows the lower part of the coaster 15, the groove 13 with the groove's horizontal arms locking it in place in the open position, the knobs 11, the bottom of the top part of the coaster 16. In FIG. 2 the fill hole 17 would be an option if the arthropod repelling material is liquid and the device could be filled thru the hole by the customer. The repelling material could be any material that repels arthropods, for example in the case of bed bugs it could be soapy water. In FIG. 2 the repellent material 18, could be any material solid, dust, or liquid that repels arthropods, including but not limited to soapy water, diatomaceous earth, any insecticide including but not limited to pyrethrins, pyrethroid, and insect growth regulator (gentrol), etc. FIG. 2 displays the inner wall of the lower part 19, and the flange 20 of the lower part. The flange 20 could extend out as far as needed in order to stabilize the coaster to the floor.

Also noted in FIG. 2 is the sloped surface of the lower part 14 which would be a rough surface to facilitate the insects crawling up the slope.

FIG. 3 shows the coaster in a locked closed position, and in this position the device would be shipped to a customer, and in a locked position the device would effective seal any repellent and prevent it from escaping the moat 24 in shipment. If the repellent were a liquid, then the customer would specify a coaster with a fill hole 17, and the customer would fill the device in the field. (This could be done in the case of soapy water, which can kill bed bugs.) FIG. 3 shows the top part 6 of the coaster, the sloped part 9 of the top of the coaster, the knobs 11, the groove 13 with its top and bottom horizontal arms, and it this case its top horizontal arm locking the device into the closed position for shipment with the repellent in the moat 24 chamber. In FIG. 3 the fill hole 17 is shown depending if needed (If the customer want to avoid toxic repellents, and wants to use soapy water, then a fill hole will be an option with the coaster.). Please not that in FIG. 3 the fill hole 17 in a locked position will not let any repellent out of the moat 24. FIG. 3 also displays the lower part 15 of the coaster, the repellent 18, and the flange 20.

FIG. 4 shows the coaster in elevation, and indicates the top 6 of the coaster, the sloped part 9 of the top, the flange 20, and the lower part 15 of the coaster.

FIG. 5 is a perspective section of the top part of the coaster (this does not show the bottom part of the coaster.) indicated by section 2 as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 shows a slice of the center shaft of the top part of the coaster 21 and the groove(s) 13.

FIG. 6 is a sliced perspective section of the bottom part of the coaster (this does not show the top part of the coaster.) as indicated by section 3 as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 shows a partial slice of the bottom part of the coaster 22, and the knobs 14.

FIG. 7 cross section in plan of the lower part of the coaster that show just the lower part of the coaster. FIG. 7 shows the center space 5 where the article's leg would be placed, the inner wall of the top part 25 of the coaster, the inner wall of the lower part 19 of the coaster, the outer and inner walls of the moat 12, the moat 24, the sloping wall of the lower part of the coaster 15, and the outer edge 7 of the coaster.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective of a filler plug 26 that would be used for the elevation of articles whose clearance is lower than the height of the coaster. The filler plug 26 would be used in the center space 5 as shown in FIG. 7. 

1. A device for protecting articles on a surface wherein a path across directing the route that all crawling arthropods and insects must transverse to access the articles on the top surface of the coaster, comprising of a physical barrier and a moat with a safety cover to repel crawling arthropods and insects comprising: a coaster that can support a load of an article placed upon it in a recessed area in the center; and an integral moat that can hold a repellent for crawling arthropods and insects and will not expose people to toxic repellents or disease carrying arthropods when in normal use since it has a cover over it; and a vertical physical barrier surface material (example: polished glass for bed bugs) to deter arthropods and insects who do not die immediately from the repellent from being able to access an article on the top surface of the coaster and will trap the insect in the moat. and a sealed moat the can contain toxic pesticides and be shipped without exposing people to toxic repellents and a sealed moat that can be easily disposed of by sealing the coaster without touching disease carrying arthropods or toxic repellents and an method of adjusting the coaster with filler plug(s) to give clearance and accommodate different heights of articles placed upon the coaster and a coaster that does not need maintenance since the vertical physical barrier does not need to be maintained. and a coaster that has a entrance that is sloped and is rough textured to facilitate the passage of the arthropod or insect to the toxic moat. and a coaster that has a fill hole for liquid repellent, that is sealed in the closed position and a flange that can stabilize the load of an article placed on the surface of the coaster.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein a path across the directing the route that all crawling arthropods and insects must transverse to access the articles on the top surface of the coaster, comprising: an integral moat that contains repellent for crawling arthropods and insects that is protected from human contact and a special physical barrier surface material surrounding the moat (example: polished glass) that crawling arthropods and insects can not transverse.
 3. The device of claim 1, that has an integral moat that can be enclosed when disposed of, or when not in use, that also serves as a receptacle for exterminated and disease infested crawling arthropods and insects and toxic repellent.
 4. The device of claim 1, that has a mote that can contain repellent, comprising of the following: a moat that can contain any repellent dust, including but not limited to diatomaceous earth. a moat that can contain any repellent solid, including but not limited to pyrethrins, pyrethroid, and insect growth regulator (gentrol), etc. a moat that can contain any repellent liquid, including but not limited to sudsy water, and ethylene glycol.
 5. The device of claim 1, that has a moat that incorporates safety, consisting a moat that a person can not touch the repellent or disease carrying insects in normal use since it has a cover. a moat the may be safely shipped comprising of a moat that can be sealed, before, during, and after use.
 6. The device of claim 1, that has a physical barrier material comprising of the following: a vertical physical barrier material that can contain any surface which crawling arthropods and insects can not climb, that could consist of, but not limited to, sticky paper, polished glass or metal. a vertical physical barrier material that can contain any surface which crawling arthropods and insects can not climb, that could consist of, but not limited to, any applied surface such as talc or petroleum jelly over the vertical physical barrier. a vertical physical barrier material that could be specific to a particular crawling arthropod or insect to inhibit their crossing (for example: polished glass or polished metal for bed bugs.)
 7. The device of claim 1, that the coaster, with the exception of the vertical physical barrier material, can be manufactured from a plastic, which could be synthetic or semi-synthetic compound. The plastics could include, but not limited to high density polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, and polyamide. 